Don't miss out! Get the best events & activities in your inbox weekly...
Home > Activities > Museums > Boston Children's Museum
Submit Event View Newsletter

Boston Children's Museum

Report Error
Email It
Write a Review
Hours:Hours Vary see below
Ages:Infants, Toddlers, Kids, Adults
In/Outdoor:Indoor, Outdoor
Cost:$$ see below
Category:Museums
Other Ideas: Concord Museum; Harvard Museum of Natural History (HMNH); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA); Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House - Home of the Alcotts


boston children's museum photoAs you plan your next visit, please note the Museum will be closed Monday March 25 to Tuesday April 2, 2024 while we make upgrades to the Museum floors. The Museum will reopen Wednesday April 3, 2024

Boston Children’s Museum is chock full of entertaining things to do & explore. Upon arrival, you are greeted by the 3 story New Balance climbing structure - a favorite with kids.

Have fun in the bubble room, explore Peep's World, full of water tables, and don't miss the interactive performances at the Kidstage.

Enjoy a virtual tour of the Boston Children's Museum!

Not sure where to start? Here's a quick photo guide that we put together about visiting the Boston Children's Museum, so you can get an idea of all the fun, interactive exhibits that await you.

Learn about Boston Children's Museum's impressive safety protocols for COVID-19; and what you can expect when you visit in 2020.

New Balance Climb
Never before – a 3-story climbing sculpture made of brightly painted curved platforms, rising like a fleet of magic carpets up the new glass lobby of Boston Children’s Museum. Children will delight trying safe risk-taking as they find their way through the 3D, full body puzzle.

Estimating space, planning moves, and choosing paths are all part of the learning in this complex space. Parents will follow the route on the stairs alongside the sculpture while enjoying a fantastic panorama of downtown Boston.

Infant/Toddler Playspace

PlaySpace for infants & toddlers
is a joyful and playful collection of developmentally appropriate experiences where infants and toddlers may develop and practice their social, emotional, cognitive, and physical skills. Parents and caregivers will love it here, too!

Explore-a-Saurus
Highlighted by a life-size animatronic Dilophosaurus, Explore•a•Saurus invites children and families to assume the role of scientist and explore the evidence, the science, and the features that make dinosaurs so compelling. Explore•a•Saurus is more than just looking at dinosaurs – it is about observing fossil evidence and developing one’s own theories about how dinosaurs may have looked and behaved.

You, Me, We
The museum's newest exhibit provides adults thoughtful guidance and tools to engage with children as they begin to perceive, explore, and question topics such as identity and fairness.

Thoughtful discussion prompts will invite visitors to reflect on their similarities and differences, and practice empathy and kindness toward one another. It is hoped that the exhibit will also lead visitors to consider the role of bias in determining how our differences are perceived, and how it can lead to racism and discrimination.

Construction Zone
Dig, climb, build (and tear down!) in Construction Zone! Ride a real Bobcat, operate the jackhammer and deploy a team of trucks on your own construction site. Construction Zone is a kid-sized world inspired by the building projects that surround us every day. Ramps, tunnels, and bridges give children the tools to imagine a city in transition. A low steel walk lets them balance on a “high beam”.

Peep's World
Peep’s World is based on the WGBH series PEEP and the Big Wide World and offers children and their parents the opportunity to learn more about science in a fun, hands-on environment. Kids will enjoy lots of sand & water tables as well as a nifty walking tunnel for making & exploring shadows

John Hancock Science Playground
“Notice, wonder, question, play” is the motto of this lively activity center. Visitors are invited to use all their senses to explore the natural world in Investigate; to test the laws of motion with golf balls and quirky tracks in Raceways; or experiment with creating beautiful orbs of many shapes and sizes in Bubbles.

Raceways
Rolling, swirling, turning, jumping—it’s not just the kids that are active at Boston Children’s Museum! In Raceways, children can explore the laws of motion by rolling golf balls along a wide variety of exciting tracks. How far will a golf ball launch off of a ski jump? Does the shape of the jump or the length that it drops make a difference?

Playing in Science Playground builds all the most important skills of scientific inquiry, as visitors observe, measure, compare, discuss, and work together, and explore the world around them.

For more information on events check the web calendar or call 617-426-6500. Check with your local library for discount coupons and passes

Other attraction that are between 7-15 minutes away include Quincy Market, Old North Church, Boston Children's Museum, The Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) Boston Tea Party Ship & Museum, The USS Constitution, Boston Public Garden,The Boston State House, The Museum of Fine Arts, and Fenway Park.

We've also put together a helpful guide where you can find lots more ideas for fun things to do with kids in Boston.

For more ideas on places to visit in Boston for all ages, our Things to do in Boston guide is a great place to start! We've compiled some of our favorite spots for you right here.

In addition, there are many interesting museums to visit in Boston - peruse our Boston Museums guide to find out which one you should visit next.

HOURS↑ top

Now open 9:00am–4:00pm Wednesday through Sunday.
*The Museum has discontinued timed visits as of February 2024


COST↑ top

General Admission is $22
Children (Under 12 months): FREE
Members: FREE
TJX Sunday Afternoons: $1 from 1:30-4:30pm

EBT and WIC cardholders from all 50 states can show their EBT or WIC card to pay only $2 per person cash admission. The discount applies for up to four people per card, per visit. The Museum does not process transactions; cash or card must be presented for payment.

A valid EBT or WIC card AND a photo ID

Additional Ways to Save


WEBSITE↑ top

www.bostonchildrensmuseum.org/

LOCATION↑ top

308 Congress Street, Boston, MA map
Phone: 617-426-6500

Boston Children's Museum is close to Boston's major highways and easily accessible by public transportation, including the MBTA train, bus and even water shuttle!

From the North:
Take I-93 South to the 'Purchase Street' exit #23. Take a left at the first set of lights onto Seaport Blvd/Evelyn Moakley Bridge. At the next set of lights take a right onto Sleeper Street. The Museum is the building on the right. For parking, at the end of Sleeper Street take a left onto Congress Street. Take the 1st left for the Farnsworth Street Parking Garage, or the 3rd left for the Stillings Street Parking Garage. Be sure to bring your ticket to the museum for validation. To walk to the Museum, go back to Congress Street, turn right, and walk towards the bridge.

From the South:
From I-93 North, take the South Station/ I-90 exit #20. Follow signs towards I-90 East, and once in the tunnel take the first exit to 'South Boston'. At end of ramp, go straight onto East Service Road. At the next intersection take a left onto Seaport Boulevard. At the second set of lights take a left onto Sleeper Street. The Museum is the building on the right. For parking, at the end of Sleeper Street take a left onto Congress Street. Take the 1st left for the Farnsworth Street Parking Garage, or the 3rd left for the Stillings Street Parking Garage. Be sure to bring your ticket to the museum for validation. To walk to the Museum, go back to Congress Street, turn right, and walk towards the bridge.

From the East (Logan Airport and Route 1A):
Take I-90 West Exit #25, “South Boston”. At end of ramp proceed straight onto B Street. At the next set of lights take a left onto Seaport Boulevard. At the third set of lights take a left onto Sleeper Street. The Museum is the building on the right. For parking, at the end of Sleeper Street take a left onto Congress Street. Take the 1st left for the Farnsworth Street Parking Garage, or the 3rd left for the Stillings Street Parking Garage. Be sure to bring your ticket to the museum for validation. To walk to the Museum, go back to Congress Street, turn right, and walk towards the bridge.

From the West:
Take I-90 East towards Logan Airport. Once in the I-90 tunnel, take Exit 25, “South Boston”. At the top of the ramp bear left towards “Seaport Blvd”. At the first lights, proceed straight onto East Service Road and follow to the end. At the next set of lights, turn left onto Seaport Blvd. At the second set of lights, take a left onto Sleeper Street. The Museum is the building on the right. For parking, at the end of Sleeper Street take a left onto Congress Street. Take the 1st left for the Farnsworth Street Parking Garage, or the 3rd left for the Stillings Street Parking Garage. Be sure to bring your ticket to the museum for validation. To walk to the Museum, go back to Congress Street, turn right, and walk towards the bridge.

* Please be advised that parking on Sleeper Street - directly behind the Museum - is for residents only. Your car could be subject to tow if you do not have the correct resident permit parking sticker.

TIPS↑ top

REVIEWS↑ top

5-starGreat Day
We were ther the other day and we all had a great day so much to do and see One Nana 55 years old, Aunt 57 years old two Mom's 37 and 35 Twins 3 years old (boy and girl) 2 1/2 year old boy.... We will be back again!
5-starA great museum
The kids love this museum!
4-starDon't forget library passes
Really reasonable tickets when you get library passes. My kids love the climbing structure, the live theater show, and the water room. Lots of free special events on weekends too!
5-starAwesome Even For Toddlers
I was incredibly surprised at how much fun my 1-year old had at the Children's Museum. There's a play area that's dedicated to toddlers and there's so many hands-on activities! It is the best children's museum I have ever been to! We were there for 3 hours and still didn't get to finish going through the museum!
4-starAdults can't enter alone
Be aware that an adult can't enter the museum without a child. My husband went to park the car, and we had to come and retrieve him from the front desk! I'm also wondering if I'm the only one who finds the new layout annoying. A corridor runs along exhibit and activity rooms, and is a little confusing. New food options are much better, though.
5-starMore Space More Fun More Stuff
We really enjoyed the new museum today. Twice as much room and new things to do. More physical activities too. The new climbing structure looks like magic carpets and takes a lot of slithering, but there's an escape hatch if little kids get scared. There's a new, wide boardwalk along the water that stretches all the way to the Barking Crab -- easier to walk to Quincy Market if you want. More places to hang out and have lunch, plus Au Bon Pain -- somewhat healthier than the old McDonalds. Worth the trip.
4-starGreat For The Whole Family
My nieces and nephews were visiting from out of town, they had a blast, it is the best childrens museum. There is so much hands on expierements. Its fun for all ages. The toddlers and preschoolers loved all the water activities, and the infant toddler area is safe and clean. I loved it. And the friday nites for $1 a person is a steal. The older kids loved the rock wall. And all the kids loved the supermarket.

REVIEWS BY STUDENTS↑ top

Fun Fun Fun with my family, Grade 3 Student
i liked the exibt about golf balls. there was a small stair case that you could go up to drop a golf ball to see how far it went on a fake hill in the wall. There was also a room that was build like a Japanese house. I thought the bathroom was really different from mine, and I wondered why the slept on the floor. The store, barber shop and phone exhibit were fun to play in. I really liked using the cash register. I love going here with my big sister and climbing in the construction stuff.
Boston Children's Museum, Grade 2 Student
My visit to the Children's Museum was a lot of fun! Right when you walk in to the museum there is a climbing net to go on all the way up the floors which is really neat. The museum has all different rooms. I liked going into the bird room and the one where I could make huge bubbles on my own. My favorite rooms were the Construction Zone, the room with the disco floor and the exercise area. The disco floor was awesome because you could pick different games to do right on the light up floor! I think other kids of all ages should visit the Children's Museum if they can. There is so much for them to explore!

RELATED LINKS↑ top

Info changes frequently. We cannot warrant it. Verify with Boston Children's Museum before making the trek. If you find an error, please report it...
Report Error
Popular Resources
Boston with Kids
Free Things to Do
Family & Kids Events
Mass RMV - DMV
Boston Birthday Parties
Boston Museums
Rose Kennedy Greenway
Boston Aquarium
Boston Massachusetts
Boston Bowling
Boston Haymarket
Boston Whale Watching